This is chocolate redefined and, unlike Gump’s momma, you will know exactly what you’re getting.
“Life is like a box of chocolates,” said Forrest Gump’s momma. However, many have refuted this claim since then. But why shouldn’t life be a box of chocolates, challenges Seema Lama, the owner of Chocolatebox Nepal. “You can always make chocolates the way you can always dictate your life,” she says.
Chocolatebox Nepal has been in operations since November 2017 and it’s well on its way to live a long life. The company makes customized chocolates, of all shapes and characters, all colors including blue and amethyst, and for all occasions of apologies and celebrations.
It all began on Valentine’s Day, like all things good always do. And it really just rode off a whim; Lama loved chocolates like she loved few things and wondered what it would be like to make chocolates of her own. YouTube became her source of inspiration and she found herself mimicking tutorials, tackling recipes, and thus creating chocolates of her own. But she wanted to share her creations and her friends, familiar with her endeavors, urged her to put her chocolates up for sale.
Pursuit of happiness and the science behind it
“It was a passing venture. I had no intentions whatsoever to give it continuity. But on Valentine’s Day we opened for limited orders and the number of requests that poured in was overwhelming. I had a great time incorporating the details the customers wished for. It was a thrilling experience for me,” recounts Lama.
What was once a one army undertaking has now sprouted to a full-fledged firm with three employees under its establishment. Bibhu Kayastha aids with the designing and the planning in the chocolate making process, having specialized in confectionery and sweets during his HM course he joins hands with Lama as they both take the creative and operational control of the process. The other employees comprise of housewives who are meticulously trained to meet the present standards and make chocolates that can brighten anyone’s day. And isn’t that what chocolates are supposed to do?
Chocolatebox Nepal employs the use of artificial sugars and imports cocoa powder to concoct their chocolates. They do this because their aim is to produce chocolates of refined taste and superior quality. But this aim doesn’t overshadow their purpose of sharing happiness through chocolates that were made just for that very purpose in mind.
“It’s always special, knowing that something was made just for you. We want our customers to feel exactly this and we couldn’t be happier in contributing to doing so,” says Lama. Just for Father’s Day this past week, they brought in a whole range of chocolates of refined sugars, catering to the old age needs of most of their customers’ fathers who don’t settle well with artificial sugar.
The reach so far has been unlike anything in the realms of their imaginations, informs Lama who maintains that had it not been for all the support and constant requests, they wouldn’t have seen past another Valentine’s Day. And what a relief that was!
Most of their customers are currently foreigners but Nepali people are getting a whiff of their chocolates too. Backed by changes in lifestyle and a growing awareness for Nepali brands, Chocolatebox Nepal sits on the brighter sides of the change as they hope to solidify themselves as a brand as the days pass.
“For us, it has always been about putting a smile on the receiver’s face and chocolate has long been associated with jubilance. Imagine jubilance with the best packaging, this is what we have done so far and what we plan to continue doing to the best of our abilities,” concludes Lama.
